Here is something to keep in mind as you read this newspaper: Many people, including some of your neighbours, are not able to do what you take for granted.Newspapers, highway signs and restaurant menus, among many other things, are a frustrating barrier to those who cannot read. More than three million Canadians have trouble reading simple printed material. That kind of functional illiteracy has a profound impact on everything from personal safety to earning power. That is why dozens of us, volunteers from the Times Colonist and throughout the community, will take to the streets today as part of the annualRaise-a-Reader program. We’ll be giving away copies of the Times Colonist in exchange for a donation, and all the money you give us will go to literacy organizations on Vancouver Island. The drive today is a major part of our commitment to building literacy in our community. We also run a major fund-raising book drive every spring, and have been able to donate millions of dollars to programs and institutions that promote reading and literacy.So look for people in bright green T-shirts downtown or at one of the participating Peninsula Co-ops this morning. The money you donate will help more Vancouver Islanders learn to read. Thank you in advance for your support.